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Setting big hairy long and short term business goals

In the heady arena of business strategy, consultants find wonderful acronyms for the work they do. Let me introduce one to you. It’s the BHAG – the Big Hairy Audacious Goal! Read on to find out more about setting long and short term business goals.

A BHAG is one that really stretches you to think differently about how you do business. It’s the goal that’s going to help you transform your business, rather than being satisfied with incremental change. It’s the business goal that’s going to inspire you to do your best work and outshine your competition.

So, the question is how to set long term or short term business goals that fit into the BHAG category?

The first step is to shake off any beliefs about what is possible in your business. If you already have mindset that limits your achievements you’ll never get serious about a BHAG.

Anything is possible, right?

Next, pose some Very Hairy Challenges – like these ones….

"The first step is to shake off any beliefs about what is possible in your business."

I want to triple my revenue in the next 12 months.

I want the best known brand in Australia

I want to work 1 day per week and still earn the same amount of money.

You get the idea.

Now you have to work backwards from this end point in 3 steps. Let’s take the “triple your revenue” example.

Imagine how fantastic it would be if you get so much as half way to your BHAG. That’s still a brilliant achievement. And if you don’t set yourself a BHAG, then this time next year you might be wondering what could have been.

Get on board. Let me know what your BHAG is. Write it down and stick it somewhere prominent where you can be inspired by it every day. And then have some fun working out how to make you long or short term goals happen!

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Megan Tough runs Complete Potential, a company that helps businesses solve their strategy and people problems. She loves being a solopreneur, and when she doesn't have her nose to the grindstone, is fulfilling her other passion of fitness and health.